Washing-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. L. DEARTH.

WASHING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model'.) W. L. DEARTEL.

WASHING MACHINE.

,134. Patented Mar. 10,1891.

NrrE o STATES WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,134, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed October 2, 1890. Serial No. 366,813. (No model.)

To all whom may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LIGHTFOOT DEARTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frankfort, in the county of Clinton and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to that class of washing-machines known as reciprocating plungers; and the objects in view are to provide a machine which will thoroughly and effectually eradicate the dirt from the apparel subjected to its action and yet without any undue or injurious rubbing of the same during its process, to construct the machine cheaply and in a simple manner, and to render it extremely light for operation and readily adapt it for washing either one or a quantity of pieces.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a washing-machine constructed in accordance with my invention, the lids being opened. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sec tion of the same 5 Fig. 3, a detail in transverse section of the rubber; Fig. at, a detail in perspective of the rubber; 5, a detail in perspective of one of the end pockets.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing my invention 1 construct the suds-box either of wood and metal or Wholly of either material, but in the present instance with opposite wooden sides 1, connected by a metallic bottom 2. The sides are extended beyond one of the end walls 3, as at 4, and connected by a cross-strip 5, having a bottom 6, thus forming a draiii-compartment to receive the drippings from the wringer, which drippings pass down the inclined bottom 6 and through a slot 7 back into the suds-box. At the opposite ends of the machine are located vertical bars 10, each pair of which are connected at their front edges by a perforated metal plate 9, which extends down near the lower ends of the bars, which latter below the plates are wedge-shaped or reduced toward their lower ends. The plates 9 and bars 10 form pockets at opposite ends of the boX and may be removed when desired.

11 designates opposite longitudinal side bars connected by a series of transverse bars 13, spaced apart, the bars 13 and 11 constituting a rubbing-frame to support the clothes above the bottom of the box and out of reach of all sediment settling at the bottom and eradicated from the clothes, said frame resting upon the bottom of the box and having its longitudinal side bars 11 beveled to take under and be removably locked in position by the side bars 10. I

The rear end bar 3 is provided with a central recess 14, and opposite said-central recess 14, upon the upper edge of the front end bar 3, is located a keeper 15.

16 designates a central bar reduced at its front end, as at 17, to enter thekeeperl5,and at its rear end, as at 13, so as to sit in the recess 14. stud 19 projecting therefrom, and a hook 20 upon the end 18 of the box has removable connection with the stud, whereby the bar 16 may be locked in position. At each side of its center the bar 16 is provided with longitudinal slots 21, and at each side of the slots are located bearing-lugs 22, through which pass removable pins or bolts 23.

24: designates a pair of vertical levers, each of which is passed through one of the openings 21, each of said levers having a series of perforations 24% for the reception of the bearing-bolts 23, and by means of the perforations the levers may be raised and lowered to accommodate the hereinafter described rubbing-head to various quantities'of clothing. The upper ends of the levers terminate in hand-holds 25, and below said hand-holds the levers pass through slots 26, formed at each side of the center of alongitudinal operatingbar 27 and said levers are pivotedin the slots by bolts 23. Beyond the levers the bar terminates in handles 29.

In a bracket 30, located upon the upper side and at the center of thelongitudinal bar 16,is

secured the lower end of a spring-blade 31, the upperend of the blade passing through a narrow slot 32, formed in the center of the bar 27. p

33 designates a rectangular rubbing-frame The rear end of the bar has a headed connected upon its under side by a series of rubbing-ribs 34. The opposite end bars of the frame are connected at their centers bya pair of longitudinal connecting bars 35, spaced a slight distance apart and which receive the lower ends of the levers 24, which latter are pivot d by bolts 36 to said bars 35.

To the upper edges of each of the longitudinal sides 1 there is hinged, as at 37, narrow lids 38, longitudinally disposed and adapted to close the opening of the sudsbox at each side of the bar 16.

In operation Water is introduced into the suds-box in a sufficient quantity, the rubbing mechanism having been previously removed and supported in position by means of the lower edge of the rubbing-frame restingupon the upper end of the rear perforated compartment 9 and the lower end of the bar 16 against the rear wall of the suds-box. The clothes are nowintroduced upon the frame 13 and the rubber replaced in its described position, after which the lids 38 are closed. The operation of washing now takes place, and is accomplished by vibrating the levers 24 back and forth. As the levers move, the rubbing-head is given a vertical compressing motion and a longitudinal motion. In its compressing motion the clothes are gently squeezed or pressed and the water forced to percolate through the material, and thus loosen and force the dirt from the articles. WVhen the head arrives at the end of its movement, it forces the Water through the perforations in the wall of the adjacent compartment, and as it returns creates a partial vacuum or causes a suction to take place, so that the water is brought back up through the perforations and sprayed upon the clothes. In this manner the clothes are thoroughly washed without any material rubbin g, and all sediment passing therefrom falls to the bottom of the suds-box below the rack and cannot come into contact with the articles. If desired, the water within the box-may be maintained at a proper temperature by means of a gasoline, gas, or other stove located under the bottom of the tub. It will be noticed that the machine is extremely easy of operation, and that the spring-blade acts to return the levers 24 to a vertical position at each outward swing of the same, also that the parts composing the machine are all readily removable, whereby the machine may be readily cleaned.

I reserve the right to alter the proportions of the machine, as I have in view the manufacture of them in toy sizes.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a washing-machine, the combination, with a stationary rubbing-frame located in the suds-box thereof, and opposite compartments formed at the ends of the frame and having their inner walls perforated,of levers pivoted above the suds-box and depending thereinto, and a rubber-frame pivoted to the levers, substantially as specified.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination, with the suds-box provided at opposite ends with compartments, the inner walls of which are perforated, and above its bottom with an open frame, of a longitudinal bar removably mounted upon the suds-box, a pair of levers passing through openings in the bar in which they are adjustably mounted, arubbing-head pivoted in the lower ends of the levers, and a bar for the operating-levers pivotally connecting the same near their upper ends, substantially as specified.

v 3. In a wasliing-xnacl1ine, the combination, with the suds-box and a pair of levers pivoted in the top of the same and depending into the box and carrying a pivoted rubbing-head, of a lever-operating bar slotted to receive said levers and pivoted thereto and provided with a transverse central slot, and a spring-blade passing through said slot and secured at its lower end to the top of the washer, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the suds-box, the opposite pairs of bars l0, and the perforated plates 9, connecting each pair of bars at their front edges, said bars being provided at their front lower ends with inclined or undercut faces, of the rectangular frame 1l,supported upon the bottom of the box, the ends of the longitudinal bars being beveled and taking under the undercut ends of the bars 10, substantially as specified.

5. The suds-box having the recess 14 at one end and the keeper 15 at the other, the barlti, having one end entering the keeper 15 and its other end fitting the recess, said bar carryingthe rubber and its actuating means, and the hinged lids 38 to close the top of the sudsbOX on each side of the bar 16, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto atiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W'ILLIAM LIGI-ITFOOT DEARTH.

\Vitnesses:

SAMUEL 0. Conan, JOHN GoLvILLE. 

